Notion Student Template: Courses, Notes, Assignments, Exams and Grades in One Dashboard
Build a Notion student template: related databases for courses, notes, assignments and exams, formulas for days until due and weighted grades, a weekly dashboard and a simple spaced review system.
A Notion student template organizes a semester into four related databases: courses, notes, assignments and exams. Each note and task links to its course, and Notion shows what is due this week, how many days remain before each exam and what score you need on the final to reach your target grade. This guide explains how to build it step by step, with formulas, views and a simple review system.
The four databases
| Database | Main properties | Relations |
|---|---|---|
| Courses | Name, instructor, term, credits, room, link to the course site | Notes, Assignments, Exams |
| Notes | Title, date, topic, type (lecture, reading, summary), reviewed (checkbox) | Course |
| Assignments | Title, due date, status, priority, score, weight | Course |
| Exams | Type (midterm, final), date, topics, score, weight | Course |
Create each database as a full page and add relations shown on both sides, so every course page lists its own notes, assignments and exams.
Useful formulas
- Days until due:
dateBetween(prop("Due date"), now(), "days") - Urgent flag:
if(prop("Status") != "Submitted" and prop("Days left") <= 3, "Urgent", "") - Weighted points for each graded item (on Assignments and Exams):
prop("Score") * prop("Weight"), with the weight as a decimal.
On Courses, two rollups sum the weighted points and the weights graded so far. Your current grade is points ÷ weights, and the score you need on what remains is (target − points) ÷ remaining weight.
Example: Statistics
A midterm score of 82% worth 30% and homework at 90% worth 20% give 24.6 + 18 = 42.6 points on the 50% graded so far, a current grade of 85.2%. The final is worth the remaining 50%. To finish with 80%, you need (80 − 42.6) ÷ 0.5 = 74.8% on the final; to finish with 90%, you need 94.8%. Knowing this weeks ahead helps you decide where to spend study time. Weights come from each course syllabus; copy them from there.
Views you will actually use
- This week: assignments and exams due in the next seven days, sorted by date.
- Calendar: every due date and exam of the term.
- Assignment board: Not started, In progress, Submitted.
- By course: each course page shows its own linked views.
- To review: notes not yet marked reviewed, grouped by course.
Put these views on one home page with your weekly class schedule at the top; it is the page you will open every morning.
A simple spaced review system
Reviewing material several times with gaps between sessions tends to work better than cramming the night before. On Notes, add a “next review” date and a review count. After each review, add one to the count and push the date out, for example 2 days, then 7, then 21. A view filtered to “next review is on or before today” tells you what to review each day. Adjust the gaps to your exam dates.
Weekly planning
A database template called “Week” can create a page every Monday with three blocks: this week’s deadlines, planned study hours per course and three goals. On Sunday, take five minutes to review: what got done, what moves and what is harder than expected. For goals beyond school, the goal planning worksheet follows the same logic; for errands and life admin, the to-do list template. Many students also track money in Notion with the Notion budget template.
Tips
- Start small: courses and assignments. Add notes and reviews once the habit sticks.
- Copy every date from the syllabus on the first day of term.
- Do not spend more time decorating Notion than studying; a plain setup you use beats a beautiful one you abandon.
- Submit and store official work in your school’s system; Notion is the index, not the archive.
More guides are in Notion Planners & Habit Trackers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Notion free for students?
Notion offers a free plan and has had special terms for education accounts. Check Notion’s current pricing page.
Can I take lecture notes in Notion?
Yes, on a laptop or tablet. If you take notes by hand, add a photo or a short summary to the note page so you can find it later.
How do I calculate the score I need on the final?
Subtract the weighted points you already have from your target grade, then divide by the weight still to be graded.
How long does setup take?
About an hour for the four databases and main views; fine-tune during the first weeks.
